Water dispenser abstract
A safety switch for a water dispenser includes a sealing ring movably
received in the channel to alternatively block communication between
the inlet and the outlet, a guiding rod securely received in the
sealing ring and having a first spring compressibly mounted around
an outer periphery of the guiding rod, a handle adapted to be pivotal
relative to the water dispensing tube and having a first distal
end securely connected to a second distal end of the guiding rod,
a support engaged with an outer periphery defining the channel and
a sliding block movably sandwiched between the support and the handle
so that movement of the sliding block relative to the support allows
the pivotal movement of the handle, which initiates an upward movement
of the guiding rod as well as the sealing ring such that the communication
between the inlet and the outlet is resumed.
Water dispenser claims
What is claimed is:
1. A safety switch for a water dispenser having a water dispensing
tube with an inlet, an outlet in communication with the inlet and
a channel in communication with both the inlet and the outlet, the
safety switch comprising: a sealing ring movably received in the
channel to alternatively block communication between the inlet and
the outlet; a guiding rod having a first distal end securely received
in the sealing ring and a first spring compressibly mounted around
an outer periphery of the guiding rod; a handle adapted to be pivotal
relative to the water dispensing tube and having a first distal
end securely connected to a second distal end of the guiding rod;
a support having a first distal end adapted to be securely engaged
with an outer periphery defining the channel and a second distal
end provided with a receiving space; and a sliding block movably
sandwiched between the support and the handle so that movement of
the sliding block relative to the support allows the pivotal movement
of the handle, which initiates an upward movement of the guiding
rod as well as the sealing ring such that the communication between
the inlet and the outlet is resumed.
2. The safety switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein a second spring
is received between the sliding block and the handle to provide
a recovery force to the sliding block.
3. The safety switch as claimed in claim 2 wherein the handle
has a recessed area defined in a bottom face of the handle and a
first protrusion formed on a side face of the recessed area and
the sliding block has a cutout defined in a bottom face of the sliding
block and a second protrusion formed on a side face defining the
cutout to correspond to the first protrusion of the handle such
that the second spring is received between the first protrusion
and the second protrusion.
4. The safety switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sliding
block has a bent formed on a first distal end of the sliding block
to be received in the receiving space of the support so that when
the bent is received in the receiving space, the handle is unable
to be pivoted relative to the support and when the bent is away
from the receiving space, the handle is able to be pivoted to initiate
the upward movement of the guiding rod.
5. The safety switch as claimed in claim 3 wherein the sliding
block has a bent formed on a first distal end of the sliding block
to be received in the receiving space of the support so that when
the bent is received in the receiving space, the handle is unable
to be pivoted relative to the support and when the bent is away
from the receiving space, the handle is able to be pivoted to initiate
the upward movement of the guiding rod.
6. The safety switch as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a
cap adapted to be threadingly connected to the outer periphery defining
the channel to secure the engagement of the first distal end of
the support with the outer periphery defining the channel.
7. The safety switch as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a
cap adapted to be threadingly connected to the outer periphery defining
the channel to secure the engagement of the first distal end of
the support with the outer periphery defining the channel.
8. The safety switch as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a
cap adapted to be threadingly connected to the outer periphery defining
the channel to secure the engagement of the first distal end of
the support with the outer periphery defining the channel.
Water dispenser description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a safety switch, and more
particularly to safety switch for a water dispenser so that an accidental
touch of the safety switch will not cause water to flow out of the
water dispenser, thus avoiding spillage, potential injury to users
etc.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] A conventional water dispenser usually is equipped with
a distilled water flagon and a water dispensing mechanism having
a switch to control water flow out of the distilled water flagon.
By pressing the switch, the distilled water is able to flow out
of the distilled water flagon and thus the user is able to enjoy
the distilled water. However, when the switch is accidentally touched,
such as someone brushing past the dispenser, heated water flowing
out of the water dispenser may cause a nuisance or even injury to
the people, especially children, nearby the water dispenser. Therefore,
to avoid such an unpleasant incident from happening, patents providing
safety measurements have been introduced to the market and they
do have the ability to prevent such mishap from happening. However,
due to the structural complexity and excessive time consumed in
assembly, cost of such safety switches is never low.
[0005] To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends
to provide an improved safety switch to mitigate the aforementioned
problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
an improved safety switch which is simple in structure and easy
to be assembled.
[0007] To accomplish the foregoing objective, the safety switch
of the present invention is provided with a sliding block movably
received between the handle and support so that when the sliding
block is sandwiched between the handle and the support, the handle
will not be able to be pivoted to allow the water to flow out of
the dispenser and when the sliding block is away from engagement
with the support, the handle is able to be pivoted to allow water
to flow out of the water dispenser.
[0008] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed description
when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the safety switch of the
present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing structural
relationship between the handle and the sliding block;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken by line 3-3 of FIG.
1;
[0012] FIG. 4 is an operational schematic view showing the sliding
block is moved relative to the handle; and
[0013] FIG. 5 is an operational schematic view showing that the
handle is able to be pivoted as a consequence of the movement of
the sliding block.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] With reference to FIG. 1 a safety switch in accordance
with the present invention is adapted to combine with a water dispenser
(not shown) with a water dispensing tube (50). The water dispensing
tube (50) has an inlet (51) for receiving water from the water dispenser
and an outlet (52) for allowing the water from the inlet (51) to
flow out of the water dispensing tube (50).
[0015] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 it is noted that the safety
switch of the present invention has a handle (10), a sliding block
(20), a support (30) sandwiching the sliding block (20) with the
handle (10), a cap (40) mounted on a periphery defining a channel
(53) in the water dispensing tube (50) and a sealing ring (60) received
in the channel (53) to alternatively block communication between
the inlet (51) and the outlet (52).
[0016] The handle (10) has a recessed area (11) in a mediate portion
of the handle (10), a first protrusion (12) formed on a side face
defining the recessed area (11) and two wings (13) extending from
a distal end of the handle (10). A stop (14) is formed on a top
face of the handle (10). The sliding block (20) is partially and
slidably received in the recessed area (11) and has a head (21)
formed on a first distal end of the sliding block (20) and on top
of the handle (10), a second protrusion (22) formed on a side face
of a bottom face of the sliding block (20) to correspond to the
first protrusion (11) of the handle (10), a cutout (23) defined
in the bottom face of the sliding block (20) and a bent (24) formed
on a second distal end of the sliding block (20). A first spring
(A) is abutted between the first protrusion (12) and the second
protrusion (22).
[0017] The support (30) is securely mounted on top of the periphery
defining the channel (53) and has a receiving space (31) defined
to correspond to and receive therein the bent (24) of the sliding
block (20). The cap (40) is threadingly mounted outside the water
dispensing tube (50) to secure engagement between the support (30)
and the water dispensing tube (50). The sealing ring (60) is received
in the channel (53) of the water dispensing tube (50) to alternatively
block the communication between the inlet (51) and the outlet (52).
A guiding rod (70) with a second spring (B) mounted therearound
is received in the sealing ring (60) and securely connected to the
wings (13) of the handle (10).
[0018] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 after the safety switch
of the water dispenser is assembled, the sliding block (20) is able
to be moved relative to the handle (10) by pushing the head (21),
the bent (24) leaves the restriction of the receiving space (31)
of the support (30) and simultaneously the first spring (A) is compressed
between the first protrusion (12) and second protrusion (22). Because
the bent (24) leaves the limitation of the receiving space (31)
of the support (30), the handle (10) together with the sliding block
(20) is able to be pivoted and thus the communication between the
inlet (51) and the outlet (52) is resumed due to the pivotal movement
of the handle (10) and the upward movement of the guiding rod (70).
[0019] Therefore, it can be summed up that only after the sliding
block (20) is moved relative to the handle (10) and the limitation
to the bent (24) of the sliding block (20) by the support (30) is
released can the handle (10) be pivoted to resume the communication
between the inlet (51) and the outlet (52). Accidental touch of
the handle (10) whereby unintended water flow from the water dispenser
is avoided and thus the user of the water dispenser is protected
from soaking and scalding by heated water.
[0020] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of
the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative
only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of
shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the
invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning
of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. |